Former Conseco Chief’s Residence Selected for Indiana Decorator’s Show

Former Conseco Inc. Chief Executive Stephen Hilbert’s home was selected as the Decorators’ Show House after a dispute over decor arose in the governor’s residence, the first choice.

St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild, a volunteer fund raising group that raises money for Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, reached an agreement with the Carmel-based insurer to hold the April 29-May 14 Decorators’ Show House at Hilbert’s former French-style, 23,000-square-foot mansion, according to an account by the Associated Press.

The mansion, which former owners Stephen and Tomisue Hilbert called Le Chateau Renaissance, is located on a 40-acre estate in the northern Indianapolis suburb of Carmel. It includes a full-size replica of Indiana University’s Assembly Hall basketball court.

The house will feature 47 interior design areas and 17 landscaped areas prepared by volunteer designers.

Volunteer interior designers originally were scheduled to decorate the remodeled 1920s-era governor’s residence, but complained about interference by state officials who didn’t like their designs, including a selection of baboon wallpaper.

The agreement between Conseco and St. Margaret’s Guild ends the concern about whether the event would be able to stage its 45th annual event. The annual Show House has raised more than $8 million over the years for Wishard Hospital and this year’s show will benefit a Wishard program that supports poor women with cancer.

Stephen Hilbert was forced to turn the property over to Conseco last year as he fights a court order that he repay $72 million to the company he founded. The debt dispute stems from company-backed loans he obtained in the late 1990s to buy Conseco stock, which became worthless during the company’s 2003 bankruptcy reorganization.

His former estate has been up for sale for more than $20 million since July.

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